Dental Hygiene

The best way to protect the health of your teeth and gums between regular dental visits

As a practice we advocate preventive dentistry and truly believe that a little extra care and attention placed on your teeth now will pay dividends in the future.

Just as you would maintain a car or a house, regular investment in your mouth really will help to keep it in top condition, running smoothly and with less chance of a problem as time passes. When issues are detected early, before they have a chance to advance, they are often easier, less invasive and much less costly to fix.

In between your regular trips to the dentists we recommend 6 monthly visits to our dental hygienist to help keep your mouth free from disease and decay.

The job of our dental hygienist:

Our dental hygienist will professionally deep clean your teeth, ensuring that your mouth feels fresh, healthy and is free from tartar which could cause gum disease. Often this process is referred to as a ‘scale and polish’.

They will pay attention to any ‘problem areas’, highlighting them as necessary and giving tips and advice on how to improve these.

They can advise on interdental devices which could be used to improve the health of your teeth and gums.

To educate patients on their oral health- including tips for keeping their mouth, teeth and gums healthy in the long-term.

Regular trips to the hygienist will help keep your teeth feeling great, your breath fresh and prevent the development of tooth decay between your dental visits. The aim is to prevent the need for more involved treatments in the future.

With regular care, your hygienist could spot any unusual changes or signs in your mouth which might indicate more serious issues such as oral cancer. With early detection, your chances of survival are greatly increased.

What is gum disease?

Even with the best tooth brushing routine at home it is virtually impossible to stop the development of plaque on your teeth, which builds and hardens on a daily basis. If this hard tartar layer is not removed regularly, your risks of developing gum disease increase significantly.

While your body naturally attempts to attack the plaque to remove it, in a number of people it can quite randomly continue breaking down the existing bone and soft tissue, causing the tooth or teeth to become loose. If enough time passes, your tooth could fall out completely.

While some signs of gum disease are obvious, other people can show no signs at all. Gum disease does not always cause pain. In fact, overtime you may become used to some of the signals.

As your gums become more irritated they will change colour- often becoming darker. They may also start to feel inflamed or uncomfortable, or you may notice that teeth look longer or more spaced out as the roots become more visible. Healthy gums should be light pink in colour and firm to touch.

One of the most obvious and common signs of early gum disease is bleeding in the gums. Healthy gums should never bleed.

If you are in the early stages of gum disease, you may also notice an increase in tooth sensitivity, an unusual (metallic) taste in your mouth or bad breath. This stage is known as gingivitis.

If you are concerned that you might be suffering from gum disease it’s important to visit us at the earliest opportunity. Gum disease can’t be cured but it can be managed to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

Our hygienists will deep clean (or debride) your gums to remove any accumulated bacteria deposits. They will then provide information and advice to help you manage your gum disease in the long-term. More advance periodontitis will require expert care and supervision and you will be referred to a periodontist if necessary.

Dental hygiene care for children

If you have children, a dental hygiene appointment is a great opportunity for their teeth to be fully checked, whilst also allowing them to learn more about how to look after their teeth as they grow up.

With regular visits, your child will get used to the sights, sounds and smells of the practice, helping them to feel comfortable and relaxed when they visit. Hopefully a 6 monthly trip will become a normal part of their life which they will continue in their adult years.

Young teeth are particularly vulnerable between the ages of 7 and 14 when the first teeth start to fall out and the adult teeth appear. This is thanks to the amount of sugar contained in food and drink items and the difficulties in getting children to brush properly and for the correct length of time. Our hygienist can apply fissure sealants and fluoride treatments in children (and adults) who are at a higher risk of decay.

Our friendly staff always make the effort to make our younger and more nervous patients feel at home. Appointments will be as brief as possible and the use of any tools will be kept to a minimum.

Other tips to keep your teeth and gums healthy

Keep an eye on your diet and remember how it impacts on your dental health. Limit your consumption of sugary food and drink and try to avoid snacking on items throughout the day.

You should always brush your teeth twice every day. We can advise you on interdental devices including brushes, floss and mouth wash to clean gaps between teeth where bacteria can thrive.

Check your mouth regularly. Be aware of any changes and have them checked at the earliest opportunity.